Feast of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria. Reference

It is assumed that this is where its name "Hodegetria" came from. This is how the shrine first came to Rus'.

The son of Prince Vsevolod Vladimir Monomakh at the beginning of the 12th century. transferred the image to the Smolensk Church of the Assumption Holy Mother of God. From that time on, the icon received the name “Hodegetria of Smolensk”.

In the XIV century. Smolensk came into the temporary possession of the Lithuanian princes. Soon the daughter of the Lithuanian prince Vitovt Sofia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich. In 1398 she brought the Smolensk icon to Moscow Mother of God. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates.

The main temple of the Novodevichy Convent was consecrated in honor Smolensk icon Mother of God, an exact list of which took the main place in the iconostasis of the cathedral.

Of the many miracles performed by this icon, the deliverance of Smolensk from the Tatars is especially remarkable. Tradition says that in 1238, following a voice emanating from the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered the camp of Batu Khan at night and killed many enemies.

It is believed that the prayers of believers before the “Hodegetria of Smolensk” helped the troops of Vasily III return Smolensk to Russia in 1514 after 110 years of Lithuanian rule.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on August 10 (July 28, old style) was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. Since then, in honor of the “Hodegetria of Smolensk,” an all-Russian festival has been held annually, which is especially solemn in Moscow, where on this day, with a huge crowd of people, there is a religious procession from the Kremlin to the Novodevichy Convent.

Until 1941, the ancient miraculous image of the Smolensk Mother of God was in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, built in 1667-1679. The further fate of the ancient image is unknown. The latest reliable news about the miraculous first image dates back to 1941. Closed in 1929, the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk was not destroyed: its shrines and utensils were preserved intact until the beginning of the Great Patriotic War. But when Smolensk was liberated by Soviet troops two years later, the icon was no longer there.

Currently, in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary there is another miraculous icon of the Smolensk Blessed Virgin Mary. In 1602 from ancient miraculous icon an exact list was written, which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent, where it stood until 1727. Then it was transferred to a wooden church in honor of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, as especially revered.

In 1802, a stone church was built over the Dnieper Gate, into which the miraculous icon was transferred. At the same time, with the blessing of His Grace Seraphim, the dilapidated frame of the icon was again repaired and decorated precious stones and pearls. The new list took on the beneficial power of the ancient image. In 1812, on the eve of the Battle of Borodino, the icon was carried around the Russian camp to encourage and strengthen the spirit of the soldiers.

An ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, taken temporarily to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, together with Iverskaya and Vladimir icons The Mother of God was carried around White City, China Town and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace.

Before leaving Moscow, the icon was sent to Yaroslavl. Here it remained until the very end of the Patriotic War of 1812. After the end of hostilities, the icon was solemnly transferred to Smolensk on November 5, 1812, where it was reinstalled in the cathedral. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland, it was established in Smolensk to celebrate this day annually.

The celebration in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God was also established on December 7 (November 24, old style) in memory of the intercession of the Mother of God during the battle with Batu.

Currently, this miraculous icon is in a specially constructed ark in the Smolensk Cathedral in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The icon is decorated with a chasuble with many colored stones.

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God enjoys great veneration among the Orthodox. Lists from it are distributed in large numbers throughout churches and the homes of believers. There are more than 30 miraculous and especially revered copies of this icon, among which the most famous are: the “Hodegetria-Smolensk” icon over the Dnieper Gate in Smolensk, the “Hodegetria-Ustyug” icon from Veliky Ustyug, the “Smolensk” icon in Belgorod, the “Smolensk” icon from Trinity-Sergius Lavra, icon "Smolensk-Sedmiozernaya" from the Mother of God Sedmiozernaya Hermitage near Kazan, etc.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there Empress Eudokia, wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor’s sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.

The Greek Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh (1042–1054), marrying his daughter Anna to Prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise, in 1046, blessed her on her journey with this icon. After the death of Prince Vsevolod, the icon passed to his son Vladimir Monomakh, who transferred it at the beginning of the 12th century to the Smolensk Cathedral Church in honor of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary. From that time on, the icon received the name Hodegetria of Smolensk.

In 1238, following a voice from the icon, the selfless Orthodox warrior Mercury entered Batu’s camp at night and killed many enemies, including their strongest warrior. Having suffered a martyr's death in battle, he was canonized by the Church (November 24).

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398–1425). In 1398, she brought the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with her to Moscow. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on the Maiden Field, where “with many tears” Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602, an exact copy was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, along with ancient icon a new list was taken to Moscow for updating), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.

The new copy took on the beneficial power of the ancient image, and when Russian troops left Smolensk on August 5, 1812, they took the icon with them for protection from the enemy. On the eve of the Battle of Borodino, this image was worn around the camp to strengthen and encourage the soldiers for a great feat. The ancient image of the Smolensk Hodegetria, taken temporarily to the Assumption Cathedral, on the day of the Battle of Borodino, together with the Iveron and Vladimir icons of the Mother of God, was carried around the White City, Kitay-Gorod and the Kremlin walls, and then sent to the sick and wounded in the Lefortovo Palace. Before leaving Moscow, the icon was taken to Yaroslavl.

Our ancestors so reverently guarded these sister icons, and the Mother of God protected our Motherland through Her images. After the victory over the enemy, the icon of Hodegetria, along with the illustrious list, was returned to Smolensk.

A celebration in honor of this miraculous image was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

There are many revered lists from the Smolensk Hodegetria, which are celebrated on the same day. There is also a day of celebration of the Smolensk Icon, which became famous in the 19th century - November 5, when this image, by order of the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Army M.I. Kutuzov was returned to Smolensk. In memory of the expulsion of enemies from the Fatherland, it was established in Smolensk to celebrate this day annually.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Praise of Smolensk and all the Russian lands are affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”

On August 10, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the day of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God “Hodegetria”. They prayed before her during wars, and the miraculous lists from this image alone number over thirty.

The type of this icon is called “Pointing the Way” (“Hodegetria”): the Mother of God and Christ look directly at the viewer, and the Mother of God herself seems to point with her hand at her son as the only way for humanity to salvation. It is believed that the first “Hodegetria” was written by the Evangelist Luke during the life of the Mother of God.

On August 9, 2016, the Orthodox youth religious procession “Our Common Path - Hodegetria” arrived in Smolensk, which began its procession in Vitebsk, Republic of Belarus. For the 14th time already, participants in the religious procession come to Smolensk for celebrations dedicated to main shrine Smolensk - the icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria.

Residents of cities in Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova took part in the procession. The Crusaders brought revered images of their lands to Smolensk - Saints John of Kronstadt, Euphrosyne of Polotsk, Alexander Nevsky and others. Curator of the Odigitrievsky procession - leader of the brotherhood in the name of the saint righteous John Kronstadt city of Vitebsk, head of the Vitebsk Diocese Department for Work with Youth, Archpriest Alexander Kovalev.

The first temple visited by the participants of the religious procession, according to tradition, was the 12th century temple in honor of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul. Then the participants of the international procession continued their way to the Smolensk Holy Dormition cathedral, where they offered their prayers at the miraculous icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria of Smolensk.

Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that the image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was moved to Jerusalem, and from there in the 5th century. Empress Eudokia, wife of the Byzantine Emperor Theodosius, sent her to Constantinople. When the Blachernae Church was built near the imperial palace near the Golden Horn, the icon, along with other relics associated with the Mother of God, was placed there.

In 1046, Emperor Constantine IX Monomakh, marrying his daughter Anna to Prince Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav the Wise, blessed her with this icon, and then it passed to his son, Vladimir Monomakh, who at the beginning of the 12th century. brought it to Smolensk, where he founded a cathedral church in honor of the Dormition of the Mother of God, where the shrine was placed. So she sent “Smolenskaya”. Residents of the city believed that it was to her that they owed salvation from Batu’s invasion in 1239.

And when at the beginning of the 15th century. the last Smolensk Prince Yuri brought it as a gift to Grand Duke Vasily, the eldest son of Dmitry Donskoy, and the icon was transferred to the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin. Smolensk was taken by the Lithuanians and for 110 years became the center of the Smolensk Voivodeship of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.

In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on the Maiden Field, where “with many tears” Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602, an exact copy was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new copy was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

The ancient image of the Smolensk Mother of God was kept in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk even after it was closed in 1929: in August 1941, after the capture of the city by the Germans, their quartermaster services informed the command that “a very ancient icon, attributed by legend to the Evangelist Luke (...) is in its original place and undamaged.” But when Smolensk was liberated two years later, the icon was no longer there. Nothing is known about her fate until now.

After 1945, its place in the Assumption Cathedral of Smolensk was taken by a copy of the early 17th century, which once stood above the Dnieper Gate of the city, and in 1812 was in the possession of the Russian army. In front of this image, thanksgiving prayers were served after each victory; in front of it, Kutuzov with his entire army prayed to the Mother of God for help and salvation of Russia.

In general, there are a great many lists of the Smolensk Icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, revered as miraculous in Rus' since ancient times, throughout the country - at least 30 are known to be especially revered.

The Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, according to legend, painted by the holy evangelist Luke, was crowned with royal glory from the very beginning. Being a revered icon in the house of the Byzantine emperors, in the same status it came to Rus' and became the family icon of the Russian princes. However, with Her honest Smolensk image, the Mother of God provided assistance not only to the sovereigns, but also to the entire Russian people.

They pray to the Smolensk icon for the preservation of Russia from foreigners; from heresies and schisms; about the return of those who have gone astray, about the healing of physical and spiritual blindness; for help in grief and sadness; about release from captivity.

Unlike the images of the Most Holy Theotokos, which were miraculously revealed, the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God has a completely earthly history of origin. However, this image also became famous for many miracles and helping people. As Church tradition says, the holy Apostle Luke painted several images of the Most Holy Theotokos, including the one that later received the name “Smolensk”. It is believed that it originally resided in Jerusalem, but was later moved to Constantinople. Initially, it was called Hodegetria, that is, “Guide” (later it received this name a whole series Mother of God icons). According to one version, the icon acquired its name when the Most Holy Theotokos appeared in Constantinople to two blind men and commanded them to go to Her temple; Arriving there, they were immediately healed. According to another version, the icon was named Hodegetria because it accompanied the Byzantine emperors on their military campaigns.

There are other versions of the origin of this name. In 1046, the Byzantine Emperor Constantine Monomakh the Porphyrogenitus blessed his daughter Anna with this icon, whom he married to the Chernigov prince Vsevolod Yaroslavich. From this moment on, the icon of the Most Pure Mother of God becomes the ancestral image of the Russian princes. In the 12th century, the son of Prince Vsevolod and Princess Anna, Vladimir Monomakh, moved the icon to Smolensk, where he placed it in the cathedral church of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in May 1101. Actually, from this moment on, the icon received the name Smolensk.

In 1237, when hordes of Tatar-Mongols led by Khan Batu came to Rus', the icon revealed itself as miraculous. So, when in 1239 the troops of Khan Batu approached Smolensk, through the prayers of the inhabitants, a miracle happened to the image of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God - the Tatar-Mongol troops, overwhelmed by horror from the appearance of the Mother of God Herself, retreated from the city. It is known that he greatly revered the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God Venerable Sergius Radonezh, and in his cell there was a copy of this icon. In the 14th century, for the first time since the day it was brought to Smolensk, the icon left the city - it was transferred to Moscow. Who and for what reason moved the icon to Moscow is not known for certain - there are several versions on this matter. Thus, according to one of them, the last prince of Smolensk, expelled from the city in 1404 by the Lithuanian prince Vitovt, arrived in Moscow, where he brought the icon along with other relics. In a new place, the miraculous image was placed “in the Kremlin Church of the Annunciation,” that is, in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, to the right of the royal gates.

However, the icon did not stay in Moscow for long: already in the next, 15th century, the townspeople decided to turn to Grand Duke Vasily the Dark with a request to return the image to Smolensk. For this purpose, Smolensk Bishop Misail arrived in Moscow in 1456. The prince gave his permission for the return of the miraculous image, and another one is connected with this important point. The fact is that the icon was taken out of Moscow with a religious procession and was accompanied for two miles. In honor of the return of Smolensk to the rule of the Russian princes, Grand Duke Vasily III founded the Novodevichy Convent in 1524 at the site where the Muscovites parted with the icon. In the newly built monastery, a copy of the miraculous image of the Mother of God “Smolenskaya” was placed and a holiday and religious procession were established in his honor.

There is information that the miraculous Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God visited Moscow one more time. In 1666, Archbishop Barsanuphius of Smolensk brought it with the aim of renewing the image, which had become blackened by time.

The following significant events associated with the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God occurred already in early XIX century. During the Patriotic War of 1812, the icon was taken from Smolensk by Bishop Irenei (Falkovsky), who delivered it to Moscow. Initially, it was placed in the Church of St. Basil of Neocaesarea on Tverskaya-Yamskaya Street, and later moved to the Assumption Cathedral of the Kremlin (this transfer was led by His Eminence Bishop Augustine). According to information that has reached us, on the very day of the Battle of Borodino - August 26 (September 7) - Bishop Augustine, together with the Georgian bishops Jonah and Paphnutius, carried the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God around the White City, Kitay-gorod and the Kremlin in a religious procession.

When Napoleon's troops were expelled from Russia, the icon was returned to Smolensk, where it remained until 1941. With the onset of the Great Patriotic War, traces of the ancient miraculous image, unfortunately, are lost. It is possible that the miraculous image shared the fate of many Orthodox shrines, which were exported en masse by the Germans from Russia in those years. Some of them disappeared without a trace, and some ended up in various private collections. One way or another, the memory of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, as well as miraculous lists they remained with the Orthodox Christians of our country forever.

Iconography of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

The theological intention of this image was to depict the Mother of God as our Intercessor before Christ and the Guide to Him.

The image of the Mother of God is half-length, the Infant Christ is full-length.
On a number of copies of the Smolensk icon, to the right and left of the image of the Virgin Mary with Christ, or at the top, the figures of the archangels Michael and Gabriel are depicted. Their heads are bowed towards the central image of the image - this is a symbol of humility, love, service, to which the entire angelic world is called.
The center of the icon - the views of the Mother of God and Jesus Christ - are turned to the person praying, which, combined with a minimum of dynamics in the image, helps a person concentrate on the main action - prayer.
The Infant Jesus Christ holds a rolled up scroll in his left hand - a symbol of the good news, the Gospel that He brought to the world. The right hand of the Christ Child is directed towards His Mother. Thus, the icon depicts an unfinished movement - the Mother of God stretches out Her hand to Christ, and the Lord - to Her. All this symbolizes man’s constant desire for God and the counter movement, which is characterized by the main Christian feeling - love. At the same time, movement right hand The Infant of God is also a blessing gesture.
With her left hand the Mother of God supports the Divine Infant Christ, and with her right hand she points those praying to Him as the Savior promised to the world.

Revered and miraculous lists of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God

Despite the fact that the ancient miraculous image of the Mother of God “Smolenskaya” is lost, there are many revered copies of it in Russia. Let's talk about where some of them are now.

HOLY ASSUMPTION CATHEDRAL OF SMOLENSK

This cathedral contains one of the revered copies of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, and previously the ancient image itself was kept here, which was lost during the Great Patriotic War. The cathedral has two altars. The main one is consecrated in the name of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the second, the side chapel, in the name of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.

TEMPLE OF THE SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD AT THE SMOLENSKY CEMETERY OF ST. PETERSBURG

This temple also has a revered image of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, in whose honor the main chapel was consecrated. According to legend, during the construction of this temple, bricks were carried to it by Saint Blessed Xenia of Petersburg, in whose honor the southern aisle was consecrated. The northern one was consecrated in honor of the icon of the Mother of God “It is Worthy to Eat.”

TEMPLE OF SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN OREL

The temple, which houses the revered copy of the Hodegetria icon of the Mother of God, was founded by residents of Streletskaya Sloboda in 1767. Bishop Tikhon (Yakubovsky) of Sevsky and Bryansk blessed the people for the construction of the temple.

TEMPLE OF THE REVEREND THEODOR THE STUDITE (SMOLENSK ICON OF THE MOTHER OF GOD) AT NIKITSKY GATE IN MOSCOW

The main chapel is consecrated in honor of the Smolensk icon, the second - in honor of the Monk Theodore the Studite. Distinctive feature The temple is that it was the parish church of A.V. Suvorov.

July 28 / August 10 Russian Orthodox Church established a holiday in honor of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria”.

Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God, called “Hodegetria”, what does “Guide Book” mean, according to Church Tradition, was written by the holy evangelist Luke during the earthly life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Saint Demetrius of Rostov suggests that this image was painted at the request of the Antioch ruler Theophilus. From Antioch the shrine was transferred to Jerusalem, and from there Empress Eudokia, wife of Arcadius, transferred it to Constantinople to Pulcheria, the emperor’s sister, who placed the holy icon in the Blachernae Church.

In the 14th century, Smolensk was in the possession of the Lithuanian princes. The daughter of Prince Vytautas Sophia was married to the Grand Duke of Moscow Vasily Dimitrievich (1398–1425). In 1398, she brought the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God with her to Moscow. The holy image was installed in the Annunciation Cathedral of the Kremlin, on the right side of the royal gates. In 1456, at the request of the residents of Smolensk, led by Bishop Misail, the icon was solemnly returned to Smolensk with a religious procession, and two copies of it remained in Moscow. One was erected in the Annunciation Cathedral, and the other - “measure in moderation” - in 1524 in the Novodevichy Convent, founded in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia. The monastery was built on the Maiden Field, where “with many tears” Muscovites released the holy icon to Smolensk. In 1602, an exact copy was written from the miraculous icon (in 1666, together with the ancient icon, a new copy was taken to Moscow for renewal), which was placed in the tower of the Smolensk fortress wall, above the Dnieper Gate, under a specially constructed tent. Later, in 1727, a wooden church was built there, and in 1802 - a stone one.

The celebration in honor of this miraculous image on July 28 was established in 1525 in memory of the return of Smolensk to Russia.

The Holy Icon of the Mother of God Hodegetria is one of the main shrines of the Russian Church. Believers have received and are receiving abundant gracious help from her. The Mother of God, through Her holy image, intercedes and strengthens us, guiding us to salvation, and we cry out to Her: “You are the All-Blessed Hodegetria to the faithful people, You are the Smolensk Praise and all the Russian lands are the affirmation! Rejoice, Hodegetria, salvation for Christians!”

Troparion of the Mother of God before Her Hodegetria icon, tone 4

TO The Mother of God is now diligent in our care, / sinners and humility, and let us fall, / calling in repentance from the depths of the soul: / Lady, help, having mercy on us, / struggling, we are perishing from many sins, / do not turn away your vain servants, / / You and Imams have one hope.

Kontakion of the Mother of God before Her Hodegetria icon, tone 6

P the intercession of Christians is not shameful, / the petition to the Creator is immutable, / do not despise the voices of sinful prayers, / but advance, as the Good One, to the aid of us who faithfully call Thee: / hasten to prayer and strive to entreaty, / / ever interceding, the Mother of God, those who honor Thee .

Prayer of the Mother of God before Her Smolensk Icon

TO to whom shall I cry, Lady? To whom shall I resort in my sorrow, if not to You, Queen of Heaven? Who will hear my cry and receive my sighs, if not You, Most Immaculate, the Hope of Christians and the Refuge for us sinners? Who will protect You more in misfortune? Hear my groaning and incline Your ear to me, the Lady and Mother of my God. Do not despise the one who seeks Your help and do not reject me, a sinner, Queen of Heaven! Teach me to do the will of Your Son and grant me the desire to always follow His holy commandment. For my grumbling in illnesses, labors and misfortunes, do not retreat from me, but be the Mother and Patroness of the cowardly me, my Most Blessed Queen, Diligent Intercessor! With your intercession, cover my sins, protect from visible and invisible enemies, soften the hearts of those who are hostile against me and warm them with Christ’s love. Grant to me, who is weak, Your all-powerful help to overcome my sinful habits, so that, purified by repentance and subsequent virtuous life, I may spend the remaining days of my earthly journey in communion with the Holy Church. Appear to me, Hope of all Christians, at the hour of my death and strengthen my faith in the difficult hour of death. Offer up for me, who has sinned many times in this life, Your all-powerful prayers after my departure, that the Lord will justify me and make me a partaker of His endless joys. Amen.